Well then we need to change our operating practices and get with the
programme. Honestly, I don't know why we can't just give up the
obsession with short-term profit and target long-term gain instead,
electoral cycles and political donors be damned.
I read a recent article[1] about why infrastructure costs are so much
higher in English-speaking countries (particularly the US, but there
are parallels here), and it boils down to us being terrible at project
management and asset utilisation. I don't know what the solution is, as
there's a lot of political and organisational inertia, and anyone who
suggests systemic organisational change (especially a younger, less-
professionally-experienced person like myself) is likely to be shown
the door very quickly, or laughed out of the room. That is, of course,
assuming that someone with positive change views is able to get in the
door in the first place.
[1]
https://pedestrianobservations.com/2019/03/03/why-american-costs-are-so-high-work-in-progress/
On Wed, 2019-05-15 at 14:20 +1000, William Jackson wrote:
> Hal

> Hmmm, this sounds very familiar…

>

> Reliable operation calls for reliable maintenance, and proactive, not

> fault-response at that.

>

> William

>

> From:tramsdownunder@... [mailto:

>tramsdownunder@...] On Behalf Of Hal Cain

> Sent: Wednesday, 15 May 2019 12:44 PM

> To:tramsdownunder@...

> Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] "Auto" points

>

>

>

> On Wed, May 15, 2019 at 11:41 AM Robbie Smith zoqaeski@...>

> wrote:

> > No there won't. If these kind of systems work perfectly fine in

> > Germany, and have done for the last decade or so, then they'll work

> > here. Australian drivers need to adapt to drive on a modern system,

> > not a heritage tramway.

> The catch is that Australian governments and their service

> contractors don't respect the need for regular maintenance. Reliable

> operation calls for reliable maintenance, and proactive not fault-

> response at that. Hal Cain

> > Conservatism in our transportation planning is holding us back. On

> > Sat, 2019-05-11 at 23:19 +1000, Mick Duncan wrote:

> > > Gday Richard, All

> > >

> > > When run nos change points,there will be prangs and derailments

> > > as some moderm drivers cant be trusted to look at the blades

> > >

> > > Cheers, Mick, glad he had eyes and a bar

> > > On 11/05/2019 7:16 am, 'Richard Youl' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

> > > > I understand your question Mick which I only pondered a few

> > > > days ago.

> > > >

> > > > Obviously they are not ‘Automatic’ when drivers have to

> > > > initiate their operation from the cab.

> > > >

> > > > Perhaps the title of ‘Powered Points’ would be more accurate,

> > > > but decades ago when they were first introduced I expect that

> > > > Automatic sounded more exciting. And old habits die hard.

> > > >

> > > > The ‘new’ technology (new to Melbourne, decades old in some

> > > > places) about to be installed in Melbourne where the tram’s run

> > > > number changes the points automatically will finally be truly

> > > > Automatic Points.

> > > > Richard

> > > >